Mark BrushNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Sarah Cwiek joined Michigan Radio in October, 2009. As our Detroit reporter, she is helping us expand our coverage of the economy, politics, and culture in and around the city of Detroit. Before her arrival at Michigan Radio, Sarah worked at WDET-FM as a reporter and producer.NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Sarah CwiekThu, 24 May 2018 14:45:26 +0000Sarah Cwiekhttp://michiganradio.org
Sarah CwiekTeachers at a Detroit charter school are demanding a new contract by the start of next month. Teaching staff at Southwest Detroit Community School have been bargaining with charter management since the fall. Teachers, parents and union leaders made the case for a June 1 deadline at a school board meeting Wednesday night.Teachers at Detroit charter school want contract by June 1http://michiganradio.org/post/teachers-detroit-charter-school-want-contract-june-1
35919 as http://michiganradio.orgThu, 24 May 2018 13:46:15 +0000Teachers at Detroit charter school want contract by June 1Sarah CwiekMacomb and Oakland counties’ leaders want the public to support a millage renewal for regional bus service that will be on the ballot this summer. Mark Hackel and L. Brooks Patterson also want their constituents to know that millage has nothing to do with a plan to expand transit through the Southeast Michigan Regional Transit Authority (RTA) — a body both men say they now favor abandoning in favor of strengthening that existing regional bus service, the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART).Hackel and Patterson: Macomb and Oakland all in for SMART, want out of RTAhttp://michiganradio.org/post/hackel-and-patterson-macomb-and-oakland-all-smart-want-out-rta
35902 as http://michiganradio.orgTue, 22 May 2018 20:28:28 +0000Hackel and Patterson: Macomb and Oakland all in for SMART, want out of RTASarah CwiekMacomb County’s Public Works Commissioner wants the public to be aware of a growing problem menacing municipal sewer systems: flushable wipes. Candice Miller says those wipes are “causing probably about 90 percent of the sewer problems that we’re having right now.” “They sort of get together and they almost act like a rope,” Miller said. “They're choking pumps, sanitary sewer pumps. And they’re causing huge backups.” Some brands of the wet wipes, which are used for everything from wiping babies’ bottoms to removing makeup to quick house cleaning, are labeled “flushable.” The problem, Miller says (and science agrees ) is that they’re really not — at least, not in the way toilet paper is. “They may be flushable, but they are not biodegradable,” Miller said. “And they are causing havoc with our underground sewer systems all across the country.” The wipes are a particular problem for the machinery behind the underground sewer system, clogging up and twisting around motors that power theMiller: "Flushable" wipes making a mess of our sewer systemshttp://michiganradio.org/post/miller-flushable-wipes-making-mess-our-sewer-systems
35876 as http://michiganradio.orgMon, 21 May 2018 20:12:49 +0000Miller: "Flushable" wipes making a mess of our sewer systemsSarah CwiekA coalition of groups is demanding Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan shut down the city’s controversial incinerator. The groups, led by Breathe Free Detroit, delivered a petition with nearly 15,000 signatures to Duggan’s office Friday morning. Ahmina Maxey, regional director for the group Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, says most of the waste burned at the incinerator comes from outside the city, but Detroiters suffer the most from negative health and quality of life effects. “The incinerator is really like a textbook case of environmental racism,” said Maxey. “And Mayor Duggan should work with Detroiters to shut it down, to protect our health.” Breathe Free Detroit also released a report from the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center Friday, outlining some of the environmental justice issues incinerator opponents frequently talk about. For example, Detroit pays more per ton to burn its trash at the incinerator than many suburban communities, despite owning the land the facilityCitizen groups to Duggan: Shut down Detroit incineratorhttp://michiganradio.org/post/citizen-groups-duggan-shut-down-detroit-incinerator
35860 as http://michiganradio.orgFri, 18 May 2018 21:20:26 +0000Citizen groups to Duggan: Shut down Detroit incineratorSarah CwiekThe city of Detroit is suing Bedrock Management Services for allegedly failing to turn over information about tenants in some rental properties. Bedrock is the real estate services firm owned by Quicken Loans CEO and downtown Detroit’s largest landowner, Dan Gilbert. Gilbert calls what the city is asking for "confidential personal information"--and says Bedrock won't release it without a court order.Detroit sues Dan Gilbert's Bedrock over tenant informationhttp://michiganradio.org/post/detroit-sues-dan-gilberts-bedrock-over-tenant-information
35788 as http://michiganradio.orgMon, 14 May 2018 19:44:27 +0000Detroit sues Dan Gilbert's Bedrock over tenant informationSarah CwiekMichigan State University’s interim president, John Engler, says the school is “anxious” to settle lawsuits brought by the victims of Dr. Larry Nassar.Engler: MSU "anxious" to settle with Nassar victimshttp://michiganradio.org/post/engler-msu-anxious-settle-nassar-victims
35748 as http://michiganradio.orgThu, 10 May 2018 17:42:28 +0000Engler: MSU "anxious" to settle with Nassar victimsSarah CwiekDetroit’s homeless population is trending downward for the third year in a row—in part, officials say, because of an emphasis on finding people homes. Detroit’s annual “point in time count” of people living on the street or in shelters tallied up 1,769 people when it was conducted on January 31 st of this year. That’s a 15% drop from 2017.Detroit leaders credit "housing first" strategy with reducing homelessnesshttp://michiganradio.org/post/detroit-leaders-credit-housing-first-strategy-reducing-homelessness
35731 as http://michiganradio.orgWed, 09 May 2018 18:50:07 +0000Detroit leaders credit "housing first" strategy with reducing homelessnessSarah CwiekDetroiters hit with driver responsibility fees have a new way to get their drivers licenses back as soon as this month. The city announced a program Tuesday that allows residents to clear those fees before automatic statewide forgiveness kicks in October 1. The only requirement: residents must complete at least 10 hours of free workforce development training.Detroit program gives residents another path to clear driver responsibility feeshttp://michiganradio.org/post/detroit-program-gives-residents-another-path-clear-driver-responsibility-fees
35716 as http://michiganradio.orgTue, 08 May 2018 17:10:56 +0000Detroit program gives residents another path to clear driver responsibility feesSarah CwiekMacomb County has a new clerk, for now. The county’s circuit court judges unanimously picked longtime county employee Kathy Smith to temporarily head the clerk’s office Monday.Longtime Macomb County employee will head clerk's office until Novemberhttp://michiganradio.org/post/longtime-macomb-county-employee-will-head-clerks-office-until-november
35698 as http://michiganradio.orgMon, 07 May 2018 18:49:01 +0000Longtime Macomb County employee will head clerk's office until NovemberSarah CwiekA 26-year-old, pregnant environmental activist is serving a two-year sentence at Michigan’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility right now. But Siwatu-Salama Ra says she acted in self-defense when she pulled a gun on another woman last summer during an altercation outside her mother’s Detroit home.Is this pregnant activist in prison for defending herself and her family?http://michiganradio.org/post/pregnant-activist-prison-defending-herself-and-her-family
35616 as http://michiganradio.orgTue, 01 May 2018 13:00:00 +0000Is this pregnant activist in prison for defending herself and her family?Sarah CwiekMetro Detroit’s divisions over expanding regional transit have only hardened recently. That was one takeaway from a meeting of the Eight Mile Boulevard Association today. That organization focuses on supporting regional cooperation across the “8 Mile divide” that’s often seen as the iconic dividing line between Detroit and its suburbs.8 Mile meeting shows hardening lines on regional transithttp://michiganradio.org/post/8-mile-meeting-shows-hardening-lines-regional-transit
35509 as http://michiganradio.orgFri, 20 Apr 2018 21:40:01 +00008 Mile meeting shows hardening lines on regional transitSarah CwiekThe concerns of lower-wage union workers dominated a debate between the Democrats in the governor’s race Thursday night. The Service Employees International Union sponsored the event in Detroit. Workers questioned Gretchen Whitmer, Shri Thanedar, Abdul El-Sayed, and Bill Cobbs about everything from privatized correctional services, to the lack of union representation for home health care workers.Dems stump for union votes in Detroithttp://michiganradio.org/post/dems-stump-union-votes-detroit
35441 as http://michiganradio.orgTue, 17 Apr 2018 14:18:38 +0000Dems stump for union votes in DetroitSarah CwiekAbdul El-Sayed shows no sign of backing away from a feud with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan over the city’s building demolitions program. The Democratic candidate for governor again slammed the program in a statement Friday, capping several days of verbal sparring with Duggan’s office. The back-and-forth followed El-Sayed’s appearance on Michigan Radio’s Stateside this week, when he said Detroit’s sweeping demolition blitz under Duggan was “poisoning kids with lead up until this year.”El-Sayed to Duggan: Halt Detroit demolitions, "willingly putting children in harm's way"http://michiganradio.org/post/el-sayed-duggan-halt-detroit-demolitions-willingly-putting-children-harms-way
35416 as http://michiganradio.orgFri, 13 Apr 2018 23:34:31 +0000El-Sayed to Duggan: Halt Detroit demolitions, "willingly putting children in harm's way"Sarah CwiekThe partial settlement of a Flint water crisis lawsuit guarantees all Flint kids can be screened and assessed for effects of lead exposure. A federal judge in Detroit officially signed off on that agreement Thursday. The case now moves on to a second phase, where the plaintiffs will wrangle with the state and Flint schools over what special services and resources lead-exposed kids are entitled to.Partial settlement a "win-win" for Flint kids, but lawsuit isn't over yethttp://michiganradio.org/post/partial-settlement-win-win-flint-kids-lawsuit-isnt-over-yet
35394 as http://michiganradio.orgThu, 12 Apr 2018 22:02:06 +0000Partial settlement a "win-win" for Flint kids, but lawsuit isn't over yetSarah CwiekEarlier this month, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality approved a permit that allows the Nestle Corporation to pump up to 400 gallons of groundwater per minute to feed its bottled water operations in Osceola County.When it comes to the Michigan DEQ, does public comment even matter?http://michiganradio.org/post/when-it-comes-michigan-deq-does-public-comment-even-matter
35349 as http://michiganradio.orgThu, 12 Apr 2018 12:00:00 +0000When it comes to the Michigan DEQ, does public comment even matter?Sarah CwiekThe Wayne County Commission sealed a deal to swap some land with the city of Detroit Thursday. It’s part of a larger deal that has the county partnering with billionaire Dan Gilbert to build a new $533 million criminal justice center. The land swap deal with Detroit gives Wayne County a spot to build a new jail and courthouse.Wayne County approves land swap deal, one step closer to new jail deal with Gilberthttp://michiganradio.org/post/wayne-county-approves-land-swap-deal-one-step-closer-new-jail-deal-gilbert
35304 as http://michiganradio.orgFri, 06 Apr 2018 13:36:26 +0000Wayne County approves land swap deal, one step closer to new jail deal with GilbertIn a surprise to no one, former Macomb County Clerk Karen Spranger is not quietly accepting her fate after being removed from office last week.Disgraced former county clerk Karen Spranger appeals to Michigan governorhttp://michiganradio.org/post/disgraced-former-county-clerk-karen-spranger-appeals-michigan-governor
35283 as http://michiganradio.orgThu, 05 Apr 2018 02:16:42 +0000Disgraced former county clerk Karen Spranger appeals to Michigan governorSarah CwiekLaw enforcement will “vigorously investigate and prosecute” anyone who makes threats against schools. That’s the message Detroit U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider and other law enforcement leaders made clear on Tuesday.Law enforcement warning to students: making school threats "will change your life forever"http://michiganradio.org/post/law-enforcement-warning-students-making-school-threats-will-change-your-life-forever
35266 as http://michiganradio.orgWed, 04 Apr 2018 11:39:44 +0000Law enforcement warning to students: making school threats "will change your life forever"Sarah CwiekThe twists keep coming in the case of ousted Macomb County Clerk Karen Spranger, as the county’s elected leaders gathered Tuesday to call for “stability” and urge that Spranger’s current temporary replacement remain in office until the November election. This came as Spranger appeared to attempt to regain her office by filing court documents addressing Gov. Snyder, President Trump, and others “to report a crime of Constitutional violation of the overthrow of my Constitutional offices.”Macomb leaders push judges for "stability" as ousted clerk claims "insurrection"http://michiganradio.org/post/macomb-leaders-push-judges-stability-ousted-clerk-claims-insurrection
35267 as http://michiganradio.orgWed, 04 Apr 2018 11:35:43 +0000Macomb leaders push judges for "stability" as ousted clerk claims "insurrection"Sarah CwiekA state investigation into a Kalamazoo nursing home’s plans to remove some residents has uncovered further problems there. The state investigated the Upjohn Community Care Center after a number of complaints that residents were being forced out to accommodate the facility’s downsizing plans. That investigation found violated laws protecting nursing home residents from eviction. It also found additional violations for “substandard quality of care.”State investigation into Kalamazoo nursing home turns up more problems http://michiganradio.org/post/state-investigation-kalamazoo-nursing-home-turns-more-problems
35243 as http://michiganradio.orgMon, 02 Apr 2018 22:10:37 +0000State investigation into Kalamazoo nursing home turns up more problems